Electric vehicle-charging wall-socket and plug.



J. N. DAVIS.

ELBOTRIG VEHIGLB GHABGING WALL SOCKET AND PLUG.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. B, 1908.

921 ,959. Patented May 18, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

"uhwil Patented May 18, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. N. DAVIS.

fivenzfor W.

APPLICATION FILED HA3. 9, 1903-.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE oaname WALL socxm AND PLUG;

ing of the current.

JASPER NEWTON DAVIS, OF DENVER, COLORADO. LLECTRIO VEHllGLE-OHARGING WALLSOOKET AND PLUG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1909.

Application filed March 9, 1908. Serial No. 420,093.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JASPER NEWTON DAVIS, a citizen of the United States of America, re siding in the city and county of Denver and rovements in sockets and This invention relates to im electric vehicle-charging wal socket plugs.

The objects of the invention are: first, to

provide a device of this character for use in garages or places where automobiles. are

stored, com rising a suitably arranged, nonconducting lock attached at a suitable position upon the wall, to which a negative and a positive current wire is attached, which connect with terminal spring cli s also secured to said block; and a removab e non-conducting plug havin terminals which are designed to be held wit in the said clips, said terminals being connected with circuit wires which at their opposite ends are connected to an ordinary car lu second, to provide a nonconducting b poi or socket, provided with protected spring terminal clips, connected with positive and negative circuit wlres; and

a removable, non-conducting socket lug, aving terminals which are held lay the spring clips, and which are connects with having a car lug at their opposite ends, said socket pliig being so arranged as to prevent the possibility of its being placed in the socket 1n a reversed po sition, which would result in charging the battery in a reversed manner, or in such a manner as to permit of short circuiting the current, the socket lu being so arranged with respect to the b ocfi or socket that any accidental downward or lateral pressure or pull u on the plug or its wires would release the piii from its clips without injury to eithert e clips or plug, and, third to provide a charging devicefor electrically operated vehicles, which is so constructed that it cannot, through mistake or carelessness, be operated to charge the batteries in the op site direction, or so as to cause short circuit- These objectslare accomplished by the device herein described, and illustrallzpd in the accompanying drawigure 1, is a central, horizontal, sectional View of the socket block, the lug beiiig se cured in operative position therein. Fig. 2,

is a vertical, sectional view of the same, on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a front elevation of the socket block, the plu -receiving terminal clips being removed. l ig. 4, is a top view of the said block. Fig. 5, 1s a horizontal, sectional view of the block on the line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6, is a vertical, sectional view of the block on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 showing a terminal clip and securing means, and the plug clam ed within the said clip. Fig. 7, is a sectionafview of the block on the line 77 of Fi 3, showin a similar clip to that illustrator? in Fig. 6, but omitting the plu Fig. 8, is an end view of the plug. Au Fi 9, is a reduced front elevation of the bloclc and its circuit wire, and of the plu in operative engagement with the termina clips, the plug being provided with the penal circuit wires having an ordinary car plug attached to their opposite ends.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 eferring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1, designates a bloc of the required dimensions, which is made of suitable non-conducting material-preferably porcelain. This lock is secured at a convenient position u on the wall of the garage or barn, where e ectrically operated vehicles are housed and charged, and in practice a plurality of them are employed, and are arra ed on a line at intervals so as to permit of t e charging of a number of vehicles simultaneously.

The blocks are provided with screw or bolt holes 2, which are counterbored from the outer face of the lock so as to house the heads of the screws 3, by which the block is secured to the wall, and on o posite sides of these counterbored holes, an a suitable distance from them, are formed chambers or recesses 4 and 4, the sides of which chambers are outwardly flared from a point near the bottom of the said chambers A step 5, is

formed at the upper end of each chamber, and from the steps the chambers open out through the upper edge of the block. Holes 6, are formed 111 the faces of the steps, which pass partially through the block, and holes 7 are formed centrally through the bottoms of the chambers 4, and 4*, which open into square recesses 8, formed in the rear side of the block. A recess 9, is formed in the block on one side of its vertical center, and in line with the holes 7 of the chambers 4 and 4. This recess is of less depth than the chamhers, and its sidesand one end are outwardly the bands and into the forward ends of the flared or inclined, as shown, while its outer end opens into the ad acent chamber 4".

An outward pro ection or lug 1.0, 18 formed centrally at the lower end of the block, which rojection is substantially U-shaped, its inner aces being referably outwardly flared or inclined, as s iown.

The blocks are manufactured in the form above described, and they are equipped for service in the following manner: Screws or bolts 11, having square heads, are passed through the holes 7, so that their heads will lie within the square recesses 8, whereby the screws are prevented from turning, and the recesses 8 are then filled with a suitable cement, which will protect the heads of the bolts against contact. Metal ilates 12, bent to conform to the bottoms of t e chambers 4 and 4*, and steps 5, are placed in the said chambers, the stri s being provided with holes 13 and 14, w iich re ister respectively with the holes 6 and 7 o the block. The holes 14, are smooth, and through them pass the bolts 11, while the holes 13 are threaded, and receive bindin screws 15, which extend loosely into the ho es 6, and secure positive and negative current wires 16 and 17 res ectively, in contact with the step portion 0 the lates 12. 8 ring clips 18, are then secure upon the b0 ts 11, by check nuts 19, and these cli s, as illustrated' in Figs. 6 and 7, com rise at base portions having apertures t irough which the screws 11 pass, and forwardly extending spring arms formed with outward segmental curves 20, which are oppositely disposed with respect to each other, the curved surfaces thus formed being adapted to clamp the terminals of a plug 21, to be presently described. The extremities of these curved arms are outwardl flared, as shown, to enable the plug to be more readily inserted. The block thus equipped is secured to the wall, as illustrated in Fig. 2,

, and is ready for use.

The lug 21, is made of non-conducting materia preferably fiber, and is of the form shown in Fig. 1, comprising a body portion 22, from the rear of which extends a handle 23. U on one corner of the forward edge of the b0 y portion is formed a wedgle shaped pro'ection 24, which is adapted to 'e artliy wit in the recess 9, and partly within t e a joining chamber 4", and upon the op osite corner is formed a narrower wed e s a ed projection 25, which is adapted to 'e wit 'u the chamber 4, and upon these projections are secured terminal contacts 26 and 27 respectively, comprisin substantially circular band portions 28, w 'ch are flattened on their forward ends, and arms 29, which form continuations of the band ortions. The band portions inclose the pro ections 24 and 25, and are secured thereto by screws 30, which extend through the flattened ends of projections 24 and 25, while the arms 29 straddle the body portion and are secured thereto by bolts 3] and 31. The contact- 26, is secured to that part of the projection 24, which is adapted to extend into the chamber 4, and these contacts are of the same width as the spring cli s 18. The portion of the projection 24, w ich is ada itcd to extend into the recess 9, extends slightly beyond the f or- Ward end ofthe contact 26, as shown at 32, for a pur ose tobe hereinafter explained, and shoul ers 33 and 34 on the forward edge of the body, prevent the plug 21 from being pushed into the block beyond a predetermined point. \rVhen the plug is inserted in,

the block, the contacts 26 and 27, enter the spring terminal clips 18, and are clamped t iereln, and the )lug is maintained in a horizontal position y a triangular bracket 35, which is secured to the under side of the plug by bolts in' such position that one of the points of the triangle will rest against the inclined horizontal edge of the U-shaped lug 10, at the point where it joins the face of the block. Should the plug be accidentally struck or trodden upon, the bracket 35 will act as a fulcrum, whereby the plug will be disconnected from the clips without injury to them or it. The flattened ends of the terminal bands 26 and 27 will leave sufiicient space between the said bands and the ends of the clipsecuring bolts 11, to permit of a-securing nut and a lock nut for securing the clip; and when it is necessary to put in a new clip, it can be done without removing the clip from the wall by removin the two nuts.

An aperture 36, is forme through the body of the plug21, and circuit wires 37 and 38 are clamped to the arms of the contacts 26 and 27, by bolts 31. These wires ass down through the aperture 36, after whic 1, for convenience, they are inclosed in a sin le wra ping 39, and are of any desired lengtli, and upon their opposite ends is secured a metalhc dplug 40, which is termed the car plug, an which is adapted to connect with the battery of a vehicle, when inserted in an aperture in the side of the battery casing, as will be understood.

With the device constructed as herein described, it is impossible to insert the plug in the socket in a reversed position, orcause the terminals 26 and 27 to touch the terminal clips 18, when the plug is in a reverse position, as the projection 24 is so much wider than the pro ection 25 that it cannot be insorted in the chamber 4, and moreover, the extended end 32 of the projection 24, will first contact with the face of the block, and 7 terminals with prevent contact of the plug H b c s emg enthe terminal clips, the sai tirel within the chambers 4 an 4, their forwar ly extendingarms being shorter than the depth of the said chambers.

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emcee- In-operationtha blocks, which areall'of' i onedesign, are-secured'alongthe wall at a convenient distance above-the floor, and'are each connected with a source of= electric 5 powenthrough'the wires 16 and17; which are attached to theplates 12- by the binding screws: 15. The circuit wires, with the socket plug at one end and the car plug at the other end, when not in use, are'hun upon desi of car lug, it isonly necessary to select a plug of a design to fit the articular make of car to be charged, and as a l the wall sockets and socket plugsare of one design, the socket lug at the opposite end of the wires will into any one of the sockets. The vehicle to be charged is stationed at a convenient position relatively to one of the blocks, and the car plug 40, on one end of the wires secured to the socket plug 21, is placed in the socket of the vehicle, commu-nrcatin with the batteries, and the plug is inserts in the block. The current is then turned on and flows to the batteries, the positive wire in the charging current being connected to the positive terminal of the battery, throu h the wall socket, and the negative wire of t e charging current being connected to the negative terminal of the battery, and thus the batteries are charged. If, however, the

socket plug were so constructed that throu h carelessness, it should be inserted t e socket in a reverseposition, the positive terminal of the charging current would be connected to the negative terminal of the battery, and the ne ative terminal of the char ing current wou d be connected to the pos1-' tive terminal of the battery, which would result in charging the battery in the reversed direction, thereb in'uring the said battery. My improved soc et block and In prevents V. the occurrence of mistakes of tliisilnd, and the construction of the block enables the plu to be easily insertedand withdrawn, WhEB the bracket 35 on the plug acts to release the plug from the block, should the plug be acci entally struck, or the plug wires trodden u on, without injury to the plu or the terminal clips.

I-iaving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a battery char 'ng device as specified, a non-conducting lock havin chambers in its front face with inclined si es terminal spring clips secured in said chambers, and connected .by circuit wires with a source of ower; a non-conducting plug havin we go shaped projections which fit into sai chambers, one of which projections is wider than the other; terminals secured upon said projections which are enga ed by the spring clips, circuit wires connecte to the terminals, and means for su porting said non-conductc'a ing plug in a horizontal position.

inclined sides and awed the wall, and as each=make of canhas its own 2. In a battery charging-device as specie fled; the (SODIbiDafiOHWIth anon-conducting block havwing-chambers in its-frontface 'wit ge shaped recess forming a continuation of one of said chamv hers; springwterminal olips seoured'in said chambers,- andcirouit wires connected. with said: clipsand with! a source -of powen; of' a non oondueting plug havinil wedge shaped projections of. unequal'widt: the wider. of w ch plrojeotionsls desi ned to liewithin one of t e chambers, and tire ad'acent wedge shaped recess; (281111111818 on said projections adapted to be engaged by the spring clips; circuit wires connected with the terminals, and means for supporting the non-conduct ing plug in a horizontal position.

3. In a battery charging device as specified, the combination with a non-conductin block having chambers in its front face, an a wedge shaped recess opening into one of the chambers; spring terminal 0 ips secured in the chamberscircuit wires connected with the terminal clips and with a source of power; and an abutment .on the lower end of the block; of a non-conductin plug having projections which are ada te to extend into the chamber, one of which projections is wider than the other and extends into the adjoining recess; circular terminal bands on said projections which are ada ted to be engaged y the spring clips; circuit wires connected to the terminals, and a bracket on the under side of the non-conducting plug which engages the said abutment. 100

4. In a battery charging device as specified, the combination with a non-conducting block having chambers in its face, which open out throughthe upper end of the block, and a recess leading into one of said chambers; plates in said chambersspring terminal ch s on said plates and bolts for securing said plates and clips to the block; binding screws in the plates and circuit wires connecting with a source of power, and with said bmding screws of a non-conductin plug having projections of unequal width which are adapted to extend into the chambers of the block, the wider of said projections extendin into the adjoining recess; terminals in t e form of clrcular bands, which straddle said projections and are adapted to be clamped within the clips, the portion of the wider projection which extends into the recess being extended to project beyond the end of the adjacent plug terminal; shoulders on the plu which prevent it from being inserted 111 t e block beyond a predetermined point; circuit wires connected with the lug terminals, which 125 extend down through an aperture in said plug, an abutment on the lower end of the lock, and a bracket on the under side of the plug, adapted to rest upon said abutment;

In a battery charging device as specified, the combination with a fixed non-conducting block' terminal sprin clips secured in chambers of unequal width 111 said blocks, and circuit wires connected with said terminals and with a source of power, of a nonconducting plug havinfi terminals adapted to be endgaged by said 0 ips, said plu? being provide with pro'ections of unequa widt which are adapte to enter the said chambers and prevent the insertion of the plug in the block in a reversed position; circuit a. bracket on the plug adapted to rest upon the abutrnent. 15 In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JASPER NEWTON DAVIS.

Witnesses:

G. SARGENT ELLIOTT, ADELLA M. FOWLE. 

